Thimble.



UNITED STATES PATENT Fines.

THOMAS M. MOINTOSH, OF PONTIAC, ILLINOIS.

THIMBLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,896, dated July 23,1901.

Application filed April 1, 1901. Serial No. 53,873. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, THOMAS M. MOINTOSH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pontiac, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thimbles, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inthimbles and the object in view is to provide simple and effectivecutting means in the closed end of the same and have such meansperipherally surround said end and be exposed at many points forconveniently severing thread, but shielded sufficiently to preventinjury to the hands or fingers of the user.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thimble embodyingthe features of the invention and shown on an enlarged scale. Fig. 2 isa transverse vertical, section of the improved thimble on a largerscale.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the views.

The numeral 1 designates the usual frustoconical thimble-body, adaptedto slip over the finger of the user and having surface indentations orrough devices 2 for catching the needle-head for obvious reasons andalso provided with a lower bead 3. The upper or reduced end of the body1 is formed with a series of inverted-V-shaped notches 4 to providesecuring-prongs 5, and fitted in and secured to the said prongs is adome-shaped cap 6, also having its exterior surface roughened orindented, and over which the terminals of the prongs are partially bent.Within the thimble and conforming in contour to the upper portion of thelatter is a tubular cutter 7, having its upper edge sharpened, as shown,and closely engaging the bent portions of the prongs and exposed throughthe openings formed by the notches 4. By arranging the cutter in thismanner many outting-points are presented at the closed end of thethimble and over which the thread may be thrown and severed withoutarranging the thimble in any particular position to attain this result.The prongs 5 shield the sharpened edge of the cutter at intervals andprevent the hands or fingers of the user from coming into contacttherewith with injurious result, and it will be seen that the saidprongs provide a thickness of metal above the plane of the sharpenededge of the cutter, and the opposing edges form guards to retain thethread in place on the portion of the cutter the severance is desired tobe made and positively insure separation of the same without slipping.

The several parts can be easily assembled, and any preferred means ofsecurement will be utilized. In view of the simplicity of theimprovement the cost of the thimble to which it is applied will not bematerially increased, particularly when comparatively considered inrelation to the advantages accruing from the provision of a cutter inconnection with a thimble.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is v 1. Asan improved article of manufacture, a thimble having a plurality ofnotches surrounding the closed end thereof, and a cutter exposed atregular intervals through said notches.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a thimble having a pluralityof notches surrounding the closed end thereof, and a tubular cutterfitted in the thimble and having its sharpened edge exposed at regularintervals through said notches.

8. As an improved article of manufacture, a thimble having a body with aplurality of notches forming prongs at the reduced end thereof and a capover which said prongs are bent and secured, and a tubular cutterinserted in said body and having its sharpened edge exposed at intervalsby said notches and intermediately shielded by said prongs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS M. MCINTOSH.

Witnesses:

J. J. MEILs, G. T. MoULns.

